Cheers erupt as spire tops One World Trade Center

A crane lifted the last of a 408-foot tall spire on top of One World Trade Center on Friday, a capstone to an emotional 12-year effort to replace the twin towers destroyed by terrorists.

The 18-piece silver spire will top out the tower at a symbolic 1,776 feet, a nod to the year America signed the Declaration of Independence. The new building is just north of the original towers, now the hallowed ground known as Ground Zero.

"This really is a symbolic moment because this building really represents the resiliency of this country,” Port Authority Vice Chair Scott Rechler told TODAY’s Matt Lauer, who earlier had made his way up the 104 floors to witness the process. “These people, the thousand men and women who have worked here tirelessly, really as a tribute for the people that perished on 9/11 right on this site.”

Lauer called it an “incredibly emotional” moment for him as a New York native.

“There’s a certain sense of personal pride that goes along with it,” he said just as the final pieces were lowered into place.

Applause and a huge cheer then erupted from the crowd below, some of whom had been chanting “U-S-A.”

The moment moved Savannah Guthrie to tears.

“How can you not have a lump in your throat, a tear in your eye, and a smile on your face after everything that has happened on that ground, to see this tower soar once again, and along with it, our hearts?” she said. “Really amazing.”

Lauer sounded the horn that signaled construction crews to begin hoisting the final pieces of the 758-ton spire, a roughly 20-minute trip to the top.

The pinnacle was built with the city’s streets in mind. Its tip holds a beacon with 288 50-watt LED lights that will allow it be seen up to 50 miles away on a clear day. Once operational, the spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna.